The Grande Finale!

Well the last week of summer came in a flash. We decided to go out big so we jumped in the car and headed up to Papa and Nana's for a sleepover!  As soon as Mom and Dad left, the party began. We had a blast at the waterpark, playing cards, chasing Tobey and cuddling with Papa and Nana.
Thank you!

Serious Owie

Today while we were supposed to be eating lunch, we decided instead to play Harry Potter and I ended up flipping over the back of the bench and landing on my head.  After a stern scolding from Mom for making too much noise while she was on a work phone call, I pulled myself together.  Coley went off to Robotics camp so I told Mom I just wanted to lay down because my head was really hurting!  Mom said "You? Lie down?!" Then she looked at my eyeballs and things got a little crazy.  I was packed into the car and rushed over to Med Check in no time.  The doctor took one look at me and sent me to the Emergency Room!  On the way there I just wanted to take a nap but Mom kept waking me up.  Then I wanted to throw up and she got really nervous.
Anyway, we made it to the hospital and I got to go inside this GIANT camera that took pictures of my brain!  Everything was okay and I was feeling better in no time.

Just Add Water

One of the best parts of being a boy is that it is REALLY easy to have fun.

Today was a "Just Add Water" kind of day!

Coley and I can always find a way to spice things up.

This kept us busy for over an hour.

Mostly, we pretended to battle the water.

but we did do some slip n sliding too!

Incoming!!

Ha!  Take THAT Coley!

When you have your best bud around on a hot summer day, anything is possible!

Jokes on You!

Today we went out to Gavin's house.  He and I were playing in the basement and decided to play a trick on the Moms.  I went upstairs and told them we found a snake (tee hee).  They didn't believe me because I am the world's WORST liar. I tried and tried and finally gave up and brought the "toy" snake upstairs to show them. 
They looked at it, then Gavin's mom looked again and said "You know... I don't remember seeing that toy before..."  Then Mom flicked it over and..
IT WAS REAL!!!!  IT WAS A VERY DEAD, VERY REAL SNAKE!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHH

Inventor Life

My love of inventing has grown much stronger this summer.  This week Levi and I are going to Robotics camp.  I'm on a team with Levi and another guy.  I do the creating, Levi does the organizing an the other guy (he is Indian and I cannot for the life of me pronounce his name) does the programming. 

Then I come home and invent other cool stuff, like my new automatic rebounder!

Mom's Tries a Small Party

Mom said last year's party was our last big one so this year she only invited 18 kids.  10 of my best friends showed up and our BEST neighbor let us use her pool!

We had so much fun fighting over the Tortuga.

Everyone had a great day.

Gavin fit right in with all my old buddies.

Mom was even more grateful for the use of the pool than I was because we are certainly not getting LESS destructive with age.

Cathryn was the only girl, but she's one of the guys anyway so it didn't faze any of us.

Check that..  Addie was there too, but when these two are together  you hardly see them anyway. B sure does have a way with the ladies!

When you are 8, your friends no longer sing.  Instead they scream HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU at the top of their lungs while pounding on the table.

Of course we held the traditional "Who can make the biggest mess eating cake" contest.

Entry #1

Entry #2



Entry #3

The Winner!

Pinatas don't stand a chance around here anymore.

We kept knocking the poor guy down.  The Dad's said "How's come we don't get a piñata?!"  "yeah!  With Whiskey in it!"

Mom made us hit one handed just to be sure we all got a turn. That guy was pulverized pretty quick!

Mom says the best part of the party was that we all stayed outside!

Of course Cathryn joined us on top of the playground!

When everyone else went home, I broke out my new laser tag guns.

and the party went on!

I did strategically invite the friends with the most stamina because we ran and ran. 

After a couple hours of laser tag, we went back in the pool, then over to our newly wedded neighbor's house for more swimming!  We spent 7 hours swimming and running!

Needless to say, we were pretty beat.  We slept in until Eli's uncle showed up to pick him up. Thank you for making my birthday party so great.  I have the best friends!

and my best best bud stayed on to keep the celebration going.

Tie One On

Look what came in the mail from Tania and Derek today !  The world's coolest ties which we can build LEGOs on!

Just in time too.  Our new neighbors got married in their backyard and these ties were almost as big a hit as our awesome dance moves were. 

Thank you Tania and Derek!  We love you!

The Great 8

Despite Mom's best efforts, I keep getting older.  EIGHT! I didn't wake up with a beard like Dad said I would, but I do feel older. Notice that I now read cards before opening gifts!  A sure sign of old age...

Mom and Dad gave me 6 laser tag guns!

Game on Bro!

We tested two different types of frosting on my chocolate caramel Gluten Free cake.

B made me an awesome card with both of us on it.

And he got me a BIG gift.

A Robosapien!  Thanks bro!  Eight really is great!

Camp Lakeview 2015

This year we made a terrible decision and left Coley at camp for 3 whole days and 3 whole nights! What was Mom thinking?? We missed him SOOOO much. We sent emails and letters and we talked about him and prayed for him and wondered what he was doing. I'll tell you what he was doing- he was having the time of his life!

Here's a big reason why...  Jeremiah, Levi, Seth, Elijah and Eli were all in his cabin!

and Cathryn was there too!

If the way they smelled and looked was any indication of the kind of fun they had, I'd say it was rough and rowdy... just like them!

Here's the man in charge of the Cherokee nation - Chip. He said Cole was awesome. Of course he was, he's Coley!

The scene of the crime.

The cabin gave Mom a slight panic attack...  it was so stinky and messy! Cole said he couldn't find clean undies because he put is wet lake soaked clothes on top of his clean laundry so he just wore the same outfit for48 hours straight.

After fishing half of Jeremiah's wardrobe out of his suitcase, Mom made him at least change his shirt. He was F I L T H Y!

Slightly better for the closing ceremony.

I begged Mom to go get Coley every day for 3 straight days, but if I'd known how sad he'd be to leave...  Okay, I would've still demanded she go get him :)

A few last chuckles with Chip.

A few funny camp songs for the parents.

The camp was FULL of Zion kids.  These are just the kids who went home after 3 days. Even more stayed the whole week!

And here we are, the best of friends. Thanks Camp Lakeview!